drinking water in Ireland

Be careful in restaurants over there. At dinner in Galway last year, we were asked "sparkling or still?" We answered still, and before we knew it, he had opened a bottle of still water! When we told him that we wanted tap water, he argued that the bottle was already open, so we would have to pay for it. We did, but did not leave him a tip.

So, if you want tap, make sure to ask for it.

The drinking water is perfectly fine. In addition to tap water, bottled water is readily available.

That's a relief and thanks so much for the quick response.

Both still and sparkling water.

"Both still and sparkling water."

We were in Italy a couple of weeks ago, traveling with friends from Sweden and Spain who met us there, and the subject of "con gas" sparkling water came up. I asked them if they really drink the stuff all the time, because every where we go in Europe, unless we specify still, or no gas, they always bring us the fizzy stuff we can't stand.

My friends all agreed that they only drink still water themselves and they don't even know anybody who likes the sparkling stuff. So I don't know why it always seems to be the default choice at restaurants over there.

I was happy to see sparkling water in Ireland. It's cheaper to buy it in the Spar than in a restaurant too, so I just got my lunch "to go" and made a picnic in the park.

I'm sorry a lot of people don't like sparkling water! I really dig it. It's like a party! Some brands are better than others...
I have the opposite experience from Patrick though. I have to specify "frizzante" when dining out in Italy or I will get still water more often than not. hmm...

Depends what you mean by "over there" - in a lot of European countries, Ireland included, still water is the norm. In others, Germany for instance, fizzy is the norm - all depends on local preference.

"Over there" means any place outside my hometown.

Patrick's Law states that whatever water type you prefer, you'll get something else unless you specify.

Even that doesn't always work. In Rome we paid 5 Euros each for small bottles that said "acqua naturale" but they were still full of salty, fizzy stuff. We poured it out and filled the bottles at the great public drinking fountains found all over Rome.

This is not what I have read. I have read that much of the water supply contains E.Coli and that they are working on it to bring it up to health code standards. I am leaving for Irleand tomorrow and I am not taking the chance of drinking the water there and ruining my trip. I suggest doing a search, as I did, and reading what the Environmental Agencies are doing over there.

gGalway had a problem a couple of years ago but I am not sure it was E-coli. The EPA summary for 2005 said the public water supplies are of excellent quality but there could be some problems with privately owned wells. I have drank the water from Bushmills to Baltimore and never had a problem although I do prefer Murphy's and Guinness.

Galway City had a problem with the drinking water in 2007 when about 60 people became ill with intestinal problems. In 2008 there were also a few issues with lead. These problems were confined to the city. I drank the tap water outside of the city and in many other parts of the country and had no problems.

However, if you are still concerned, bottled water is sold in many groceries, convenience stores and restaurants/pubs.